Putting my front tramp back on. And it looks for all the world like the tention line shrunk over the winter. the line only laces a bit past half way across the boat. Maby it was only single laced when i bought the boat or i did something wrong. But a 7" gap from tramp to Xbar is normal correct?

The photo shows no tension on the lace lines. You need to really pull some tension on those lines. The material will stretch quite a bit and the distance will shrink between the crossbar and tramp... lines will then reach no problem.

I guess i am understanding this wrong to. It looked like it was straight laced. BUT there are one too few X-bar eyelets for straight laced. So it has to be done Zigzag. I'm just still trying to figure out the pattern to follow.

(i don't have a padeye on the hull. just the hard point on the X-bar)

And by the Way Matt i appriciate all the help you give us. I know i'm a pain in the Arse. But just don't have many other examples of hobies around here to go by.

That doesn't match my copy original of the manual. My lacing diagram was hand drawn. I guess when we (maybe even "I") updated the manual we changed the process, but not the suggested line length. With the line you have, just do the zig-zag and be done with it.

Mine has always been done as in the first photo and manual. I never noticed the zig zag pattern before...I wonder if it's any easier pulling the slack out? Or if the line will remain tensioned as you relax to go to the next loop...which seems to be a benefit of the straight up and down patteren.

I'm thinking whose ever boat that is in the magazine never read the manual and just winged it

It is near impossible to pull high tension with the zigzag. WIth straight lacing i could work alot more slack out.

BUT by tying three foot pieces bowline at one end. slack end around the x bar thru the loop and using it like a pulley i was able to get the tramp tensioned and then lace it zigzag before cutting the tentioning loops. It took ALOT of force to get it where it needed to be.